Lone returning starter to lead young team
One returning starter and a large sophomore class mean Mountain View’s Yellowjackets will be young and inexperienced this season. Jeff Morrow’s sixth Yellowjackets squad will include three seniors, one junior and eight sophomores. “It’s hard to say how we’ll do,” Morrow said recently. Mountain View finished 12-13 last season, including 10-8 in its blended conference. The Yellowjackets did not make the postseason. Back starting from that squad is 6-0 senior guard Drew Adams, who averaged 5 points per game as a junior. “He is our point guard and leader,” Morrow said. Julian Duran, a 6-2 senior, is the only experienced returning inside player. “He’s a very good post defender,” the coach said. Team strengths will be overall team speed and quickness. “And I believe we will be able to shoot it pretty well,” Morrow said. Obvious weaknesses include youth and inexperience. The Yellowjackets also lack overall height, the coach said. After the Arkansas Activities Association’s realignment, Mountain View will face Bergman, Clinton, Green Forest, Marshall, Valley Springs and Rose Bud in the 3A-1 East instead of the old blended conference. Morrow said he expects returning to the old league will renew a lot of lost rivalries. The schedule overall looks to be a tough one for the Yellowjackets. “Since we have such a young team, every night will be a challenge,” Morrow said. “But one thing about this young team — they will get after it and be fun to watch. “But we will have to grow up fast.”